Practise Identifying Coordinating and Subordinating Conjunctions

In this activity, we are going to be recapping our knowledge on conjunctions.

 

Coordinating Conjunctions

There are seven coordinating conjunctions and we can use the acronym FANBOYS to help us remember them all.

 

For

And

Nor

But

Or

Yet

So

 

Which coordinating conjunction could link these two simple sentences together to make one sentence?

 

I am allergic to dairy.

I do not eat cheese.

 

The coordinating conjunction and could link these two sentences, but so is the best option.

 

I am allergic to dairy, so I do not eat cheese.

 

 

Subordinating Conjunctions

A subordinating conjunction introduces a subordinate clause.

A subordinate clause doesn’t make sense if you just say it on its own.

 

Look at the sentence below:

 

Arthur felt nervous ____ stepping onto the stage.

 

Can you think of a subordinating conjunction to fill the gap so that the sentence makes sense?

 

We could use the subordinating conjunction before.

Arthur felt nervous before stepping onto the stage.

 

 

Before is the subordinating conjunction.

Before stepping onto the stage is the subordinate clause.

 

If we moved the subordinate clause to the start of the sentence, it would still make sense.

Before stepping onto the stage, Arthur felt nervous.

 

Here are some other subordinating conjunctions:

When

Because

If

While

Although

After

As

 

Which subordinating conjunction would fit the gap in the sentence below?

 

__ you like swimming, we can go to the pool.

 

Here, the subordinate clause was at the start of the sentence and the missing subordinating conjunction is if.

 

If you like swimming, we can go to the pool.

 

 

In this activity, you’ll be on the hunt for both coordinating and subordinating conjunctions.

Remember to use the acronym FANBOYS to help you remember those coordinating conjunctions.